Spanning 186,000 km² with a coastline of 1,800 km, the Red Sea region is home to diverse marine ecosystems, including the world’s fourth-largest coral reef and 6.2 percent of the planet’s coral reefs.
The initiative reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to integrate environmental sustainability into its economic agenda while developing its marine industries.
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has launched the National Red Sea Sustainability Strategy (NRSSS), an initiative aimed at safeguarding the marine environment, supporting local communities, and advancing the Kingdom’s transition to a blue economy.
This strategy is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and aligns with the nation’s priorities in research, development, and innovation, particularly in the field of environmental sustainability, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to leverage its vast economic, geographical, and cultural potential, alongside its pioneering efforts in sustainability and environmental preservation,” said the Crown Prince, who also serves as the Prime Minister and Chairman of the Economic and Development Affairs Council.
He added, “With this strategy, the Kingdom makes the blue economy a fundamental pillar of its diversified economy and aspires to make the Red Sea region a global reference for leading-edge blue economy activities, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global leader in blue economy research, development, and innovation.”
Covering 186,000 km² and with a coastline of 1,800 km, the region hosts various marine ecosystems, including the fourth-largest coral reef in the world and 6.2 percent of the planet’s coral reefs.
The strategy presents measures to protect these resources while developing industries such as ecotourism, fishing, renewable energy, and water desalination.
By 2030, the plan aims to expand protected marine and coastal areas from 3 to 30 percent, increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix to 50 percent, and create new jobs in the blue economy. It also aims to protect investments in coastal tourism, which is expected to contribute to the national economy.
The strategy focuses on five main objectives: environmental sustainability, economic development, social development, safety and security, and governance. It includes 48 initiatives designed to balance economic activity with environmental preservation and address climate challenges, the SPA added.
The Crown Prince emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to a sustainable future for the Red Sea, saying, “We count on the cooperation of all to protect our Red Sea coast, as well as the nature and communities that depend on it.”
This initiative reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to integrate environmental sustainability into its economic agenda while developing its marine industries.
Red Sea Project Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Sustainability Goals
In an interview with Arab News, John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global, emphasized that this strategy enhances the efforts already underway in the Red Sea Project, marking a significant milestone in cross-sector collaboration along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea zone.
“The strategy supports what we’ve been doing for several years in terms of habitat creation, mangrove cultivation, and coral farming,” said Pagano.
He added, “We’ve already made important announcements over the years leading up to the NRSSS, working with companies such as ACWA Power and EDF to produce a 100 percent renewable energy facility for the Red Sea.”
Pagano highlighted that the company’s renewable energy initiatives align with reducing its carbon footprint, one of the main pillars of the NRSSS.
“We are thrilled that the NRSSS has been announced because, in the end, it brings a cross-sector and multi-stakeholder commitment, where everyone along the Red Sea will work together to realize the full potential of the Red Sea, the Saudi Red Sea zone, and truly bring a prosperous blue economy to Saudi Arabia,” Pagano said.
He also noted the global shift in consumer preferences, particularly in the travel and tourism industry.
Pagano stressed that people are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their choices and are seeking more sustainable travel options.
“I don’t think it’s surprising that the world is changing. People and consumption habits are changing. A recent Booking.com survey showed that nearly 86 percent of respondents want to travel more sustainably,” said Pagano.
He added, “Focusing on ecotourism is really about fueling a very rich and rapidly growing market.”
Pagano noted that the vision for the Red Sea Project aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to create a diversified economy and a thriving tourism industry. He highlighted several other initiatives that demonstrate Red Sea Global’s alignment with the NRSSS.
“We align with the five pillars. Renewable energy is a key pillar. We’re already doing that. Habitat creation. We’re doing it by cultivating mangroves, planting mangroves, farming coral, seagrass, etc.”
Pagano stressed the ecological importance of mangroves and coral reefs: “We’ve committed to planting 50 million mangroves. Mangroves are extraordinary plants for a number of reasons.”
“They protect against sea-level rise and erosion. They sequester three to ten times more carbon than an equivalent area of trees on land,” according to the CEO.
“We’re enhancing resilience. We’re fragmenting corals so they grow faster. We’ve created a coral regeneration lab that recreates spawning events that occur once or twice a year. We can now make that happen several times a year,” Pagano said.
He also emphasized the economic impact of the Red Sea Project on Saudi Arabia: “I think ecotourism and what we’re doing on the Red Sea have huge economic benefits. At full capacity, we’ll contribute 33 billion SAR to the Saudi economy each year. We’ll create 120,000 jobs.”
Pagano concluded the interview by inviting the world: “Come visit the Red Sea. It’s real, it’s happening, and it’s setting a new global standard for regenerative tourism.”
Source: arabnews
